Re: It may be a US "standard", but...
Serial/Oxford comma debate:
Without serial comma:
"I went for dinner with my parents, Dick and Jane."
Did you go with your parents, and Dick, and Jane, or are your parents called Dick and Jane?
With serial comma:
They are my parents:
"I went for dinner with my parents, Dick and Jane."
They are some other friends:
"I went for dinner with my parents, Dick, and Jane."
Biting the hand that feeds IT
